Summer has arrived. Hope you’ve got some vacation time planned as we’re all working pretty hard.
Vacation is a time to relax, so it seemed like green was a good topic this month — green symbolizes nature, it’s the easiest color on the eye, calming and refreshing.
Green home concepts are gaining popularity and stop, don’t panic. Green homes can happen with really small, incremental steps that anyone can do. In fact we recommend step one is learning about green homes, so we’ve created an easy to find “Green Homes” page on our blog, to give you ideas or simply remind you how to make green decisions when it’s time to replace your refrigerator, hot water heater or remodel a bathroom.
Green homes can save money — but how? When you buy a new appliance, by researching energy efficiency — adding product, installation and operating costs — you’ll save money over just comparing the cost of the washing machine or siding. We’ve also got a fun article about an emerging green concept called deconstruction and one homeowner’s story about saving $40,000. So keep reading, learn a bit more about your home and have a great summer. If your honey do list is bothering you, give us a call and you’ll enjoy your summer even more.
Deconstruction Saves Money
My inspiration for this newsletter came from the REX Project, for Reuse Everything Experiment. The homeowner tells her story about renovating a 2800 square foot home. Her goal was to spend no more than traditional remodeling — they saved $40,000 over conventional building costs.
When to Replace Exterior Home Components
Just like buying new tires for your car, key components of your home need to be replaced on a fairly predictable schedule. Unfortunately most home owners don’t plan for these expenses, and then get caught with a whooping bill for a new roof, new furnace or worse, multiple expenses in the same year.
Interior Home Features and When to Replace Them
You can probably survive with a microwave if your stove stops working but what about your refrigerator? You’ll have to scramble and buy a new refrigerator fast or lose your food. It’s really better if you don’t get caught in this situation, as you might end up with a new appliance that isn’t ideal but the only one they can deliver tomorrow.